Council flags insufficient space for housing over Macquarie Point vision

The Macquarie Point master plan has been criticised by Hobart City Council for having less than one-third the amount of space set aside for housing than the council preferred.

THE Macquarie Point master plan has been criticised by Hobart City Council for having less than one-third the amount of space set aside for housing than the council preferred.

The long-awaited master plan will be considered at a council planning committee meeting tonight, where aldermen said they would likely recommend it be passed.

Officers said the council’s preferred permitted area for residential use at Macquarie Point should remain at 50,000 sqm — rather than be reduced to 15,000 sqm as the master plan has done.

The council officers, however, recommended the master plan be passed. They recommended submissions to it by Mona be rejected.

Alderman Jeff Briscoe said he would be advocating support for the master plan.

Alderman Jeff Briscoe. PICTURE: MATT THOMPSON

“It provides for a good balance of residential area and public space, and the Antarctic precinct and reconciliation park development,” he said.

“It will make it the most significant site in Hobart for Aboriginal reconciliation.”

The master plan, released in October last year and which includes many of the elements of the 2016 Mona vision, doesn’t back permanent housing due to the potential conflict with hosting large public events at the site and the view that there was enough land elsewhere in central Hobart for residential development.

Council officers have recommended not to support the Mona and DarkLab submission on the master plan, which didn’t allow for any residential use.

“The potential impacts can … be alleviated to some extent by the appropriate location of residential use and the design of buildings,” the report said.

The new vision for the prime 9ha site (90,000 sqm) sees a substantial increase in the allocation for education, research uses and open space, with 20,000 sqm set aside for hotel accommodation.

The master plan also includes Mona’s vision also includes a cultural precinct and National Truth and Reconciliation Art Park that acknowledges Australia’s dark history of colonial warfare.

VISION AIMS TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE STATE’S DARK PAST

GALLERY: MONA’S MACQUARIE POINT 2050 VISION

An artist’s rendering of Mona’s Macquarie Point 2050 vision. Image: Fender Katsalidis Architects with rush\\wright associates and SCENERY

Council officers said despite the potential for land use conflict, it was beneficial to have a permanent population at Mac Point to:

PROVIDE a level of activity when there were no public events.

FACILITATE the development of neighbourhood character and sense of place.

IMPROVE safety and security and support local businesses.

“Even if the 50,000 sqm figure is retained as the permitted standard, this amount of residential use would not occur unless the Government wants it developed,” the report said. “The standard does not mandate the provision of a certain amount of residential floor space, it simply places a permitted cap on it.”

An artist’s rendering of Mona’s Macquarie Point 2050 vision. Image: Fender Katsalidis Architects with rush\\wright associates and SCENERY

Ald Simon Behrakis, who will chair the planning meeting while Deputy Lord Mayor Helen Burnet is on leave, said he would keep an open mind and be involved in the debate.

But he said at some point they had to commit to a plan and press on with the redevelopment.

Alderman Simon Behrakis. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Earlier this year Cr Burnet criticised the master plan for reducing residential space and said there was an opportunity for Mac Point to help ease Hobart’s housing stress.

HOUSING ROW OVER MACQUARIE POINT RETHINK

That view was rejected by Dark Mofo festival creative director Leigh Carmichael.

The Macquarie Point Development Corporation’s response to the council submission said 50,000 sqm of residential area couldn’t be achieved without a significant change to the State Government’s vision for Mac Point.